What do you think?
Rate this book
The Song of the Midnight Rider
A love letter to found family and the American road, Lex E. Santí’s The Song of the Midnight Rider is fast, violent, and full of heart.
— Kelli Jo Ford, author of Crooked Hallelujah
Lex Santí has a poet’s heart, his work is a wonder.
— Cara Hoffman, author of Running and So Much Pretty
In the shadowlands of the American South, a man drives an untraceable car—black-on-black, near silent, built for vanishing. Behind the a reluctant courier forced into servitude, paying off a debt to men who deal in violence and live by no law but their own. To survive, he must keep moving. To be free, he must disappear entirely.
But as the miles add up, so do the ghosts. Each delivery drags him deeper into a world of myth, memory, and meaning—where found family, radical love, and defiant hope become his only compass.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is a gritty, heart-thrumming novel about the cost of freedom and the lengths we’ll go to for redemption. With echoes of No Country for Old Men, Jesus’ Son, and the folklore of the open road, Santí’s debut pulses with lyricism, velocity, and grace.
— Kelli Jo Ford, author of Crooked Hallelujah
Lex Santí has a poet’s heart, his work is a wonder.
— Cara Hoffman, author of Running and So Much Pretty
In the shadowlands of the American South, a man drives an untraceable car—black-on-black, near silent, built for vanishing. Behind the a reluctant courier forced into servitude, paying off a debt to men who deal in violence and live by no law but their own. To survive, he must keep moving. To be free, he must disappear entirely.
But as the miles add up, so do the ghosts. Each delivery drags him deeper into a world of myth, memory, and meaning—where found family, radical love, and defiant hope become his only compass.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is a gritty, heart-thrumming novel about the cost of freedom and the lengths we’ll go to for redemption. With echoes of No Country for Old Men, Jesus’ Son, and the folklore of the open road, Santí’s debut pulses with lyricism, velocity, and grace.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 10, 2026
I've experienced the thrill of driving fast in a pack of cars, the author perfectly captured the camaraderie, trust, and adrenaline that come with it. From page one, I was completely hooked.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is one of those rare novels that pulls you in immediately and refuses to let go. Lex Santí has created a story that moves with the momentum of a thriller while delivering the emotional depth and character development of great literary fiction.
Jordan Samson is a compelling protagonist, and his journey through a world of danger, loyalty, loss, and redemption feels both epic and deeply personal. The novel captures the restless spirit of the American road while exploring timeless themes of freedom, belonging, and the families we create for ourselves along the way. Fast-paced, thought-provoking, and full of heart, The Song of the Midnight Rider is an outstanding debut. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction with grit and soul.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is one of those rare novels that pulls you in immediately and refuses to let go. Lex Santí has created a story that moves with the momentum of a thriller while delivering the emotional depth and character development of great literary fiction.
Jordan Samson is a compelling protagonist, and his journey through a world of danger, loyalty, loss, and redemption feels both epic and deeply personal. The novel captures the restless spirit of the American road while exploring timeless themes of freedom, belonging, and the families we create for ourselves along the way. Fast-paced, thought-provoking, and full of heart, The Song of the Midnight Rider is an outstanding debut. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction with grit and soul.
June 20, 2026
I’ve known Lex since we were kids in 7th grade, so seeing him publish a novel of this caliber is both inspiring and deeply satisfying.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is a powerful, beautifully written story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. The characters feel real, the writing is lyrical without ever losing momentum, and the journey is filled with equal parts grit, heart, and humanity.
What impressed me most was the emotional depth of the book. Beneath the suspense and action is a story about redemption, belonging, and the people who help us find our way when we feel lost. Lex has created a world that is both haunting and hopeful.
The Song of the Midnight Rider is a powerful, beautifully written story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. The characters feel real, the writing is lyrical without ever losing momentum, and the journey is filled with equal parts grit, heart, and humanity.
What impressed me most was the emotional depth of the book. Beneath the suspense and action is a story about redemption, belonging, and the people who help us find our way when we feel lost. Lex has created a world that is both haunting and hopeful.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews